Witness calls Chesterfield house fire ‘terrifying’

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MOSELEY, Va (WTVR) -- A large house fire was contained by Chesterfield County Fire crews, but the family that lives there has been displaced.

Crews responded just after 12:00 p.m. to the 5200 block of Kimmeridge Court in the Westerleigh neighborhood off Otterdale Rd.

Upon arriving to the scene, crews could see heavy fire coming from the dwelling. Witnesses said the flames shot high into the air, above the two-story home.

"Terrifying. The most terrifying moment of my life," said Jennifer Snyder, who saw the fire shortly after it engulfed the roof of the house.

The fire was contained within the hour and only one minor injury has been reported. Neighbors said a mother and her two sons live there. One of the children is special needs, according to neighbors.

One adjacent house was damaged in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation; however officials said preliminary findings indicate the fire started outside the home and behind it. The house is made with vinyl siding, which firefighters said tends to spread flames quickly.

House fires involving vinyl sided homes are not uncommon in Chesterfield, according to Assistant Fire Chief Robby Dawson.

"Somebody either leaves cigarettes or a grill or something like that on the back deck. It burns the vinyl siding off and very quickly gets into the attic," said Dawson.

Although investigators have not yet pinpointed the exact cause of the fire, they said the siding may have played a factor.